Heater shows E11; fan may run but ignition does not proceed.
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Turn off gas and electrical power. Working on gas valve circuits should be done with extreme caution; if in doubt, call a professional.
Step-by-step checks:
- Inspect gas valve connector: Locate the gas valve on the Pahlen burner manifold. Check that the electrical connector is fully seated and free of corrosion.
- Check wiring harness: Follow the harness back to the control board, looking for cuts, burns, or rodent damage. Repair or replace damaged sections.
- Measure coil resistance: With power off and the connector unplugged, measure the resistance of the gas valve coil(s). Compare to Pahlen specifications. An open or shorted coil indicates a bad valve.
- Board output test: A technician can test whether the control board is sending voltage to the valve during ignition. If not, the board relay may be defective.
When to stop: Replacement of gas valves and control boards should be performed and leak-tested by a licensed gas technician.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
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